"Whether you get cursed at or complimented..." Director Lee Jung-hyo's debut match in Suwon will be released

*This content was translated by AI.

A soccer master seeking to restore his self-esteem will play his first game since joining the K-League's best tactician. Suwon Samsung under coach Lee Jung-hyo (51) will finally lift its veil.

Suwon Lee Jung-hyo will face Seoul E-Land at 4:30 p.m. on the 28th at Suwon World Cup Stadium in the opening round of Hana Bank's K League 2026.

Suwon finished second in the K League 2 regular league under coach Byun Sung-hwan last season, heading to the promotion playoff, but lost to Jeju SK and failed to get promoted. As a result, Suwon, formerly called a famous soccer player, will spend its third season in the K League 2 alone, suffering a great blow to its pride.

This game is Lee Jung-hyo's debut as manager of Suwon, who led Gwangju FC until last season. Suwon made a major change with the appointment of head coach Lee Jung-hyo. Starting with midfielder Ko Seung-beom, who returned to his home team, Jung Ho-yeon and goalkeeper Kim Joon-hong joined to build a second-class post-K League power. Hong Jung-ho, the best 11 players in the K League 1 in the 2025 season, joined the defense, and Lee Jung-hyo's favorite player Hayes in Gwangju and Pesin, who was the core of Busan I-Park, joined the offense. Ilyuchenko, an existing quasi-class resource, also stays on the team to support firepower.

Opponent E-Land also desperately needs to win the opening game. E-Land, who failed to be promoted after staying in the K League 2 for 10 seasons from the 2016 season, lost to Jeonbuk Hyundai in the 2024 season promotion playoff and suffered a setback in the K League 2 playoff last season. E-Land under head coach Kim Do-kyun has a solid central core, including Osmar and Kim Oh-kyu, and Ewler, who scored 12 goals and 11 assists in the 2025 season, is holding up as a key offensive resource.

Coach Lee Jung-hyo, who is taking on a new challenge, said at a media day meeting held at the Swiss Grand Hotel in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 25th, "I don't think all 16 K-League teams have a team to let their guard down," but added, "The biggest rival is that they want to exceed the expectations of the fans."

"I'm thinking about how to do it better, how to entertain the eyes of Suwon fans for those who come to the stadium," he said. "Personally, I have to be satisfied with myself, so time flew by while preparing like that." Of course, I feel pressure," he added.

At the same time, he expressed his bold determination with his unique honest tone. Head coach Lee Jung-hyo predicted a head-to-head match, saying, "The reaction after the opening match will be either I'm criticized by Suwon fans or praised." "I think it would be good to come to the stadium and check whether it will be implemented or not. I will continue to try to implement it that way," he stressed.

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*This content was translated by AI.